Caring for People with Serious Illness

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted existing weaknesses in the United States health care system, while creating a new set of challenges related to caring for people with serious illness. The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Roundtable on Quality Care for People with Serious Illness hosted a three-part workshop to explore the initial responses to the pandemic by health care teams providing care to people with serious illness, the impact of the pandemic on the health care workforce, the use of telehealth, issues related to clearly communicating with the public about health emergencies, and policy opportunities to improve care for people with serious illness. Issues related to health equity were discussed throughout the three webinars.